It was a
puppet show like no other, last night's "War Horse" (playing at the
Arsht Center through Sunday, March 9th).
The play's star, "Joey", is
a beautiful stallion forced to join the horrors of WW I. 
His
"costume" is occupied by three busy people. 
They're easy to see but
soon forgotten as Joey and his pals steal the show.
War Horse is as "spellbinding" as reviews say. It has you believing large animals are acting on stage. 
After the initial setup the spare set is
soon overrun by galloping cavalrymen and even -at one scary moment- a
huge, menacing tank. Witness the magic yourself, http://www.arshtcenter.org .
SUNDAY'S ART SHOW
It seemed like
everyone was having a good time at Sunday's art show on Gifford Lane. Francesca
and I manned our corner booth chatting with friends and making new
ones. A few people actually bought my creations.
But the main
thing was the party, thousands of people gathering under the oaks to
have enjoy the show. 
The Grove could use more of these outstanding social
occasions.
Could this weekend's Miami weather be any better?
Its impossible to stay inside so get out. Go to the Gifford Lane art show on Sunday, noon to five.
It's what a community should have every weekend, a public place to eat, drink, hear live music, and hang out with your friends. Dylan and me at last year's show
This gathering is called the "Gifford Land Art Stroll" and it is everything that the Grove Art Festival isn't. Easy to get to, not too crowded, free, and fun.
Young artist Sophie Barimo will be selling her feathered jewelry
It takes place on the 3200 block of Gifford Lane. That's two blocks north of Grand and one block east of SW 32 Ave. We will be manning our Mango Republic Art Booth. Above, our nieces, Ava
and Francesca, in their new shirts
Stop by and visit us manana. We'll be the couple sitting on the south corner, next to the fish and the Mango Republic banner.
.
I love visiting thrift shop art galleries, seeing the lonely discards of wanabe artists. Sometimes I buy these bizarre, unloved paintings but don't know quite what to do with them.
Our walls are filled with art already. Friend, Gina, suggested that I add to these old artworks, turning them into something new. That's how the King Mango Thrift shop Painting Project got started.
I began with the purchase of a hand-painted reproduction of Van Gogh's "Night Cafe". One of the chairs was empty so I painted in King Mango having a caffe au lait.
Same for Hopper's "Nighthawks".
These paintings are actually very good reproductions painted by professional artists in China. Researching their product, I learned they sell for about $150 in reproduction galleries. I didn't want to tinker with these two too much so I made the king -like "Waldo"- barely noticeable.
You can't say the same for the others. In "King Mango and his New Best Friend, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz,
the King is "somewhat easy" to locate.
Check out the others...
All of them will be offered for sale at tomorrow's art show on Gifford Lane, priced from $35 to $85.
Stop by anytime between noon and 5 and
check them out. Maybe they will inspire you to become a thrift shop artist!
Great bread, you can finally buy it in Coconut Grove. That, and many more delicious things, await you at the Grove's new farmers market. 
It is open on Thursdays (today), next to the playhouse on Main Highway, from 2 to 8 pm.
Car parking is free and bicyclists get their own valet. 
While it is similar to the one we've had on Grand Avenue for years (on Saturdays), this one feels safer, has more reasonable prices -and- you don't have to stand in dirt!
Fufi's hot leek and onion epanadas are to die for. We ride our bikes there every Thursday now and run into many friends.
The biggest pumelo I've eve seen
We hope to see you at the market today.
Join us at the sixteenth annual Gifford Lane Art Stroll in Coconut Grove on Sunday, March 2, from noon to five p.m.
Each year the world’s smallest arts festival attracts more people than you can count. They come to purchase art and to imbibe an exotic cucumber punch. This results in surprising amounts of dancing in the street.
You’ll find the Gifford Lane Art Stroll along one normally sleepy , tree-lined block of Gifford tucked in between Oak and Day Avenues (3200 block), across the street from the tennis courts. That's two blocks north of Grand Avenue and one-block east of SW 32d Ave. Parking is all over or if you can, ride a bike. (Above, the woman who paints rocks)
There are 63 artists this year. When you hear about Coconut Grove’s artist community, this is it. Old-timers often comment that this little festival is the Grove the way the Grove once was.
King Mango fighting his way out of a Jackson Pollack-Inspired Nightmare. 20x30. Framed, Acrylic on paper, $65
The festival features the art work of dozens of accomplished artists (and me) set up along the quiet lane.
King Mango at Van Gogh's Night Cafe. Oil on canvas, 20 x 24", framed $85
Detail from "King Mango at the Nighthawk Cafe". Oil on canvas, 20 x 30", framed, $85
Portraits, Acrylic on plywood, sizes vary, about 12" by 10 ". $10 each
Hardwood benches
and last year's big hit, fish made from palm tree seed pods
Francesca and I will be manning our Mango Republic booth on the southern end, across from the tennis courts. We'll be selling paintings, benches, sculptures, and
those fashionable Mango Republic t-shirts.
It really is a 5-hour party and we hope you can join us this Sunday.
